OUR FATHER WHOSE PROPHETS SPEAK TRUTH EVEN AT THE RISK OF THEIR LIVES

Mathew chapter 14 verses 5 - 7 says this;

Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.

On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 

King Herod, the tetrarch of Judea, had been warned by John the Baptist that his marriage to his brother Phillip's wife named Herodias, was unlawful.

Both Herod and his wife Herodias harboured animosity towards John for this indictment against them and Herod had John arrested and imprisoned but dared not kill him because the people sensed that John was a genuine prophet and harming him would have been a political risk for Herod.

As it happens, it was Herod's birthday and  Herod's step-daughter danced for the guests and Herod was so pleased that, before all the guests,  he recklessly promised to give her anything she asked for.

Herod's wife quickly siezed the opportunity to force Herod's hand and she prompted her daughter to respond to his promise by  asking for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

He was distressed but because of his oath and his guests, he ordered that John the Baptist be executed and his head brought to the girl.

A reckless off-hand promise compelled Herod to do something dreadful that endangered his political career as well as his soul for killing a prophet of God.

This passage highlights two thing; Firstly, that our Father's prophets speak His truth even when it endanger's their lives. 

Also, may our Father teach us to avoid  making careless oaths that so easily entrap us.

Amen.